Apparatus for the water-packing of snow-roads



(No Model.)

H 1 GRENNELL.

APPARATUS FOR THE WATER PACKING 0P snow ROADS.

WITNESSES Patented Aug. 16, 1881.

ATTORNEYS:

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEieE.

HENRY I. GRENNELL, OF MEDFORD, WISCONSIN.

APPARATUS FQR THE WATER-PACKING OF SNOW-ROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,814, dated August16, 188 1,

Application filed June 25, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY I. GRENNELL, ofMedford, in the county of Taylor and State of Wisconsin, have invented anew and Improved Apparatus for the Vater-Packing of Snow-Roads, of whichthe following is aspecithe snow in the runner-tracks of snow-roads,.

and thus form a solid pathway for sleighs.

The invention consists of a sleigh carrying a water tank and heater andsuitable conducting and delivering pipes, whereby the water may beheated and the hot water delivered intothe runner-track of snow-roads topack and solidify the same, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents an ordinary box or lumbersleigh, to the beams B of which is attached a water-tank, O, of suitablesize.

In apertures in the rea part of the bottom of the water-tank O aresecured the ends of two pipes, D, the upper ends of which are coveredand protected from becoming clogged by conical or other shaped screensE. The rear ends of the pipes D are dctachably connected byscrew-couplin gs or other suitable means with pipes F, which are coiledin opposite directions and in alternate coils into cylindrical form, asshown in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The other ends of thecoiled pipes F project at the rear ends of the sleigh-runners, so as todischarge or sprinkle the water that passes through the said coiledpipes upon the runner-tracks. The discharge ends of the coiled pipes Fare provided with stop-cocks G, so that the discharge of water can becontrolled as desired. are made of such a size as to receive the fuel,and thus serve as a fire box and grate for the fire. The coils of thepipes F are inclosed with a casing, H, of sheet-iron or other suitablematerial, to confine the fire and prevent The coils of the pipes F (Nomodel.)

the heat from being radiated from the coils of the said pipes. The endsof the casing H are attached to cast-iron heads I, through which theends of the pipes F pass. In one of the heads I is formed an opening, J,closed by a door, K, for the insertion of the fuel, and with an opening,L, a little below the coils, to admit air' to support combustion. In anaperture in the other head I is secured the end of the smoke-pipe M,which projects upward to such a height as will insure a proper draft.

The water heating apparatus rests upon brackets or other supports N,attached to the rear part of the sleigh A, and is hinged at one end toone of the said supports N, as shown in Fig. 3, so that by disconnectingthe pipes D E and removing the smoke-pipe M the heating apparatus can beturned up endwise, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to allow anywater left in the coiled pipes F to flow out, to prevent the said waterfrom freezing in the pipes and injuring them or forming a sedimentwithin them.

I am aware that the runner-tracks of snowroads have been sprinkled withcold water; but this is objectionable from the fact that cold waterfreezes upon the surface of the snow before it has had time to penetratethe said snow, and thus forms a thin crust over the snow, which crust isbroken up by the passage of the next sleigh, leaving the snow loose andunpacked.

lVith my improvement the heated water penetrates the snow deeply or toits bottom, so as to form a solid ice pathway for the horses and thesleigh-runners.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. An apparatus for the water-packing ofsnow-roads, constructed substantially as herein shown and described,consistingofthe sleigh A B, the water-tank O, the discharge-pipes D, thecoiled pipes F, the casing H I, and the smoke-pipe M, as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for the water-packing of snow-roads, the combination,with thesleigh A B, of the water-tank 0, having dischargepipes D, thetwo pipes F, coiled into cylindrical form, the casing HI, and thesmoke-pipe M, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby watercan be heated and discharged upon the runner-tracks of the road, as setforth.

3. In an apparatus for the water-packing of snow-roads, the water heaterformed of two pipes coiled in alternate coils in opposite directions andinto cylindricalform, inelosed by a casing, and provided with a smokepipe, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the pipesthat contain the water to be heated will form the fire box and grate, asset forth.

4. The method of water-packing snow-roads, substantially as herein shownand described, which consists in saturating the tracks with hot water,whereby the body of snow forming the tracks becomes solidified, as setforth.

HENRY I. GRENNELL.

Witnesses:

J. E. MARSH, T.G. JEFFERS.

